Bill S2201A-2011

Provides for the reinvestment of funds into community-based services for persons suffering from chemical dependence and for establishment of fund

Provides for the reinvestment of funds generated by savings due to declines in the state prison census into community-based services for persons suffering from chemical dependence and for the establishment of the chemical dependence reinvestment fund; provides for the establishment of the state interagency council on chemical dependence reinvestment fund utilization and for the composition thereof.

Meetings

Votes

Memo

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the mental hygiene law and the state finance law, in relation to the reinvestment of funds into community-based services for persons suffering from chemical dependence

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill, to be known as the Drug Law Reform Reinvestment Act, will reinvest savings realized from the reduction in costs associated with the incarceration of drug offenders into community based treatment, prevention, education, and job skill training programs for alcohol and substance abusers.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 providers for the legislative intent and findings as related to the decline in the state prison inmate census, due to the utilization of alternatives to incarceration and changes in sentencing laws for persons convicted of drug offenses, as well as the benefits of chemical dependence prevention.

Section 3 amends the mental hygiene law by adding section 22.12. Section 22.12, subdivision (a) provides for the establishment of the Community Reinvestment Program which directs the Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to plan, promote, develop, evaluate and conduct programs and services of prevention, diagnosis, examination, care, treatment, rehabilitation, education and research for individuals who suffer from and/or are at risk for chemical dependence. Subdivision (b) states that all money received or accepted pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the chemical dependence reinvestment fund. Subdivision (c) states that in approving funds pursuant to this section the commissioner of OASAS shall consider the extent of local contributions for expenditures for local services provided to persons diagnosed with chemical dependence. Subdivision (d) establishes the state interagency council on chemical dependence reinvestment fund utilization, which will be charged with development and implementation of a schedule for studying chemical dependence prevention and treatment programs.

Section 4 amends the state finance law by adding section 99-u. This section establishes the Chemical dependence reinvestment fund. Subsection 1 establishes a fund in the joint custody of the comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance to be known as the chemical dependence reinvestment fund.

Section 5 states that each year and independent actuarial accounting of the savings generated from the declines in the state prison census shall be conducted and the results reported to the governor, the division of the budget, the senate finance committee, and time assembly ways and means committee no later than December 31.

JUSTIFICATION: Alcoholism and substance abuse is one of our State and Nation's leading public health problems, costing many billions of dollars and untold suffering in many families and every community. Recent studies by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and other leading researchers have documented the dramatic successes of treatment and prevention in reducing not just alcohol and drug dependence and abuse, but also crime, AIDS, welfare, homelessness and other health and social ills.

Expanded alcoholism and substance abuse treatment and prevention will be the linchpin of any successful effort to reform our state's drug laws, as courts and prosecutors must have additional resources available so they can divert appropriate addicted offenders from prison. Yet New York State has failed to adequately fund our existing base of alcoholism and substance abuse treatment and prevention programs. These programs have struggled throughout the past decade to maintain their place as the leading providers of those services in the Nation as budget cuts and lack of resources to address inflation and additional administrative requirements erode their very foundation. Treatment and prevention programs, as well as vocational and job skill training programs need additional resources to be able to recruit and retain staff, install computer technology, and otherwise meet administrative requirements. The goal of assisting the many thousands of addicted offenders and their families who will need treatment, prevention, and job training services as a result of Rockefeller Drug Law Reform will not be realized unless we stabilize our existing community system.

The Drug Law Reform Reinvestment Act will address all these issues by providing the resources necessary to shore up time existing foundation of our nation-leading alcoholism and substance abuse treatment and prevention system as well as develop the necessary capacity to provide services to the thousands of people diverted from prison every year by sentencing reform.

Successful outcomes from the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse are to be expected if the addicted individual receives the appropriate level of care for the proper duration of time and with the necessary aftercare. The single greatest predictor of treatment success is length of stay in treatment. OASAS outcomes data demonstrate dramatic decreases in problem behaviors after six months in treatment. Drug and alcohol use decreases dramatically as does use of expensive healthcare (ER, inpatient hospital stay), arrests, incarceration, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and other undesirable behaviors. Employment

increases, dependency on public assistance decreases, and quality of life improve after six months or more of treatment.

OASAS licensed community-based treatment is essential for public safety and public health. Releasing inmates or diverting arrestees without a strong treatment and job training component will pose a considerable public risk. Community-based treatment provides a therapeutic structure that increases dramatically the likelihood that a person will remain drug/alcohol free and become a law abiding, productive citizen.

The Drug Reform and Community Reinvestment Act utilizes savings created by Rockefeller Drug Law Reform to strengthen base funding for existing alcoholism and substance abuse treatment and prevention programs (licensed or approved by OASAS) and to expand those services to address the needs of persons targeted by drug law reform and their families. The full continuum of OASAS licensed, certified, or approved alcoholism and substance abuse treatment, prevention, and vocational services will be supported by the reinvestment fund. Treatment services include outpatient, day treatment, inpatient, residential, emergency and crisis services, detoxification (inpatient and community-based), methadone and other pharmacotherapy, halfway houses and supportive living, aftercare services, services for homeless chemically addicted persons, services for persons with dual disorders, services for chemically-addicted persons with and/or at risk for or HIV infection, HIV-related illness or AIDS, and other hard to serve populations. Core treatment services, monitoring and reporting progress to the courts, and necessary ancillary services will be eligible for support.

Reinvestment is the best way to fund a major initiative to make treatment the first option in addressing behaviors related to addiction.

Reinvestment has been crucial to the strengthening of New York State's mental health system. The experience of time mental health field and the lessons learned about the best way to implement reinvestment should inform time development of Drug Law Reform Community Reinvestment

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2201--A
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2011
___________

Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Develop-
mental Disabilities -- recommitted to the Committee on Alcoholism and
Drug Abuse in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the state finance law, in
relation to the reinvestment of funds into community-based services
for persons suffering from chemical dependence
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent and findings. The legislature finds
that declines in the state prison inmate census, due to the utilization
of alternatives to incarceration and changes in the sentencing laws for
persons convicted of drug offenses, create concomitant demand and strain
on community-based chemical dependence treatment services.
The legislature also finds that as state expenditures for incarcerated
individuals are reduced due to the aforementioned interventions, it is
necessary and appropriate to establish a dedicated fund, comprised of
those savings, which will be reinvested into the development and expan-
sion of community-based chemical dependence treatment and prevention
programs.
The legislature further finds that as it is well established that
chemical dependence prevention and treatment is the most effective
response to chemical abuse and addiction and the resulting criminal
offenses, the availability of effective prevention and treatment
programs should be a prominent component of the state's response.
S 2. Section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 56 to read as follows:

EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06122-02-2

S. 2201--A 2

56. "COMMUNITY CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE REINVESTMENT SERVICES" SHALL
INCLUDE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE SERVICES AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION
FIFTY-FIVE OF THIS SECTION.
S 3. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 22.12
to read as follows:
S 22.12 COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT PROGRAM.
(A) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
SERVICES SHALL PLAN, PROMOTE, ESTABLISH, DEVELOP, COORDINATE, EVALUATE,
AND CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OF PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, EXAMINATION,
CARE, TREATMENT, REHABILITATION, EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND
RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER FROM AND/OR ARE AT
RISK FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE. SUCH PROGRAMS SHALL BE LICENSED OR
APPROVED BY THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES AND
SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO INPATIENT, RESIDENTIAL, HALF-WAY
HOUSE, OUTPATIENT, METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT, EMERGENCY, REHABILI-
TATIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL AND OTHER APPROPRIATE TREATMENT,
PREVENTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
(B) ALL MONEYS RECEIVED OR ACCEPTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE
DEPOSITED INTO THE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE REINVESTMENT FUND ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-NINE-U OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW, IN APPROVING
FUNDS PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-NINE-U OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW AND
SECTION 26.00 OF THIS TITLE, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOL-
ISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES SHALL CONSIDER THE EXTENT TO WHICH
LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS HAVE MAINTAINED LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR EXPEND-
ITURES IN ANY LOCAL FISCAL YEAR FOR LOCAL OR UNIFIED SERVICES, AS APPLI-
CABLE, PROVIDED TO PERSONS DIAGNOSED WITH CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE AND MADE
PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, AT A LEVEL EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT
EXPENDED THAT FISCAL YEAR. SUCH COMMISSIONER SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO
REDUCE PAYMENTS MADE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS WHICH HAVE RECEIVED
GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, IN THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR FOR FAIL-
URE TO MAINTAIN EXPENDITURES. FUNDS ANNUALLY APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGIS-
LATURE FOR COMMUNITY CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE REINVESTMENT SERVICES ARE
INTENDED TO PAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, EXPANSION, AND OPERATION OF COMMU-
NITY CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE SERVICES. ANNUAL COMMUNITY CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE
REINVESTMENT FUNDS SHALL NOT BE USED TO SUPPLANT OR REPLACE COMMUNITY
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE COSTS OF ANY PROVIDER THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PAID FROM
THE PRIOR YEAR'S OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES
GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL PURPOSE.
(D) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE STATE INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON CHEM-
ICAL DEPENDENCE REINVESTMENT FUND UTILIZATION. THIS COUNCIL SHALL DEVEL-
OP AND IMPLEMENT A SCHEDULE FOR STUDYING CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE PREVENTION
AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS, FOCUSING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF SUCH PROGRAMS
AND WHETHER THESE PROGRAMS ADEQUATELY MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE INMATES
RELEASED FROM DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITIES. FURTHER, THIS COUN-
CIL SHALL RECOMMEND ANY NEEDED EXPANSIONS TO CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE TREAT-
MENT PROGRAMS. BY JANUARY FIRST OF THE YEAR FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS SECTION, THIS COUNCIL SHALL REPORT ITS FINDING TO THE GOVERNOR, THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY. SUCH
COUNCIL SHALL OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND SHALL CONSIST OF A CHAIRPERSON,
CHOSEN BY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE OFFICE OF
ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINIS-
TRATION, THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, AND THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY SERVICES. THE COUNCIL SHALL ALSO CONSIST OF NINE REPRESENTATIVES
SELECTED FROM THE FOLLOWING THREE COMMUNITIES AS FOLLOWS: THREE REPRE-

S. 2201--A 3

SENTATIVES FROM THE SERVICE PROVIDER COMMUNITY; THREE REPRESENTATIVES
FROM THE CONSUMER COMMUNITY; AND THREE REPRESENTATIVES WHO SHALL BE
FAMILY MEMBERS OF CONSUMERS. ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THESE THREE
COMMUNITIES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE
ASSEMBLY AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE.
S 4. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-u to
read as follows:
S 99-U. CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE REINVESTMENT FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY
ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMMISSIONER
OF TAXATION AND FINANCE A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE
REINVESTMENT FUND.
2. MONEYS OF THE FUND, FOLLOWING APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE AND
ALLOCATION BY THE DIRECTOR OF BUDGET, SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMIS-
SIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT, EXPANSION AND OPERATION OF NEW AND EXPANDED COMMUNITY CHEM-
ICAL DEPENDENCE SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SERVICES
RENDERED TO PERSONS MANDATED INTO CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE TREATMENT IN LIEU
OF INCARCERATION BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SPECIFIC AMOUNTS SHALL
BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION UPON DETERMINATIONS MADE BY SUCH
COMMISSIONER PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (B) OF SECTION 26.00 OF THE MENTAL
HYGIENE LAW. SUCH FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES MAY ALSO BE USED TO DEVELOP STATE OPERATED
SERVICES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY AND CRISIS SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT
SERVICE, EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES, SERVICES FOR HOMELESS CHEMI-
CALLY-ADDICTED PERSONS WITH AND/OR AT RISK FOR HIV INFECTION, HIV-RELAT-
ED ILLNESSES OR AIDS, PERSONS DUALLY-DIAGNOSED WITH CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE
AND MENTAL ILLNESS, OTHER HARD TO SERVE POPULATIONS, AND OTHER SPECIAL-
IZED SERVICES AS APPROVED BY SUCH COMMISSIONER.
S 5. Each year an independent actuarial accounting of the savings
generated from declines in the state prison census shall be conducted
and the results reported to the governor, the division of the budget,
the senate finance committee and the assembly ways and means committee
no later than one year following the effective date of this act.
S 6. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.

Comments

Open Legislation comments facilitate discussion of New York State legislation. All comments are subject to moderation.
Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity or hate speech;
or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Comment moderation
is generally performed Monday through Friday.